Panama City Man Arrested on $500K Theft Charge

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida State Attorney Bill Eddins, today announced the arrest of Jeffrey J. Del Monte for grand theft and aggravated white collar crime for the misuse of more than $500,000 in public funds.

The arrest, made in Panama City, resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Office of Fiscal Integrity (OFI) and the Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit.

During 2008 and 2009 Del Monte was contracted to perform construction at the Topsail Hill Preserve State Park at Miramar Beach. The project was funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with than $2.2 million in state funds. The investigation revealed Del Monte misappropriated $506,855.18 that belonged to the 18 sub-contractors who had completed work at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.

Del Monte received monthly payments for the project after claiming that he had paid the sub-contractors and employees for the work completed.

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